By Democrat reporter
The body of former first minister Alex Salmond has returned to Scotland, almost one week on from his death in North Macedonia.
The privately chartered flight, personally paid for by Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter, landed at Aberdeen Airport shortly before 2pm on Friday.
The plane was met by Mr Salmond’s family, along with Alba Party acting leader Kenny MacAskill.
STV News was there to cover the event as Mr Salmond’s body was then taken by hearse to a funeral home in Fraserburgh.
A ceremony was held at Ohrid Airport prior to the departure of the private flight, with a North Macedonian military guard carrying Mr Salmond’s coffin, which was draped in a Saltire, to the plane.
It left the country at around 11.25am local time on Friday.
The repatriation of Mr Salmond’s body to Scotland comes almost a week after the former first minister suffered a massive heart attack while taking part in a youth cultural and diplomatic event in the city of Ohrid.
Mr Salmond was having lunch with other delegates, including Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, chair of the Alba Party, when he suddenly fell back in his chair.
Emergency services were called and CPR was carried out, however Mr Salmond passed away.
Veteran Tory David Davis, who was a friend of the Alba Party leader, had led calls for the RAF to step in to repatriate Salmond’s body, with discussions taking place between the Scottish and UK governments.
Sir Tom Hunter said Alex Salmond deserved the ‘dignity and privacy of a private return’.
However, on Wednesday, Sir Tom personally funded the repatriation of Mr Salmond’s body to Scotland.
Alex Salmond and Sir Tom Hunter enjoying each other’s company.
Sir Tom said: “Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and as such he, and importantly his family, deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth.”
The former first minister’s death will be marked by a private family funeral in the coming days.
Macedonia delivered a military guard of honour to Mr Salmond unlike th establishment and the mendacious Scottish Government who would have had his body brought back in a garbage lorry.
I mean absolutely no offence when I make that hurtful comment but the establishment did absolutely nothing to repatriate Mr Salmond.
Salmond was a political colossus. His commitment to Scotland and a better life for Scots was absolute. As First Minister he ran a absolutely fantastic devolved government and raised the profile of Scotland both here and abroad.
The inaction of our establishment to bring his body back is absolute testimony to the hatred of the establishment.
Alex Salmond however will not be forgotten, his dream will not die and history will expose how the dark establishment tried to destroy him and Scottish Independence.
Alex, gus am bris an La.